Houston.... "do" we have a problem?

[Papa Deuce]

I heard a report on the radio today that named Houston as the most unliveable major city in the US. It did not give any details. It was just the final line in a story about how Zurich Switzerland is the best city on earth to live in as far as big cities.

Granted, I have not spent much time in Houston, but I have been there 2x, and while I wasn't incredibly impressed, I certainly didn't get a negative feeling about the place either.

Is it an unemployment thing?

 

[brerrabbit]

Unliveable? Are these people smoking crack? We have lower unemployment than most of the nation. We have more affordable housing than most of the nation. We have the arts, numerous major colleges, professional sports, great resturants and numerous recreational activities. We have the Gulf of Mexico 40 miles away, probably 15 lakes within a 150 miles. We have plenty of golf courses, parks and green belt areas. The only possible thing they could say was unliveable about Houston would be the heat and humidity. And the possibility that air quality in certain areas is below standards now and then. The heat and humidity are no problem once you get used to them and as my family sees it just training for summer vacations to WDW. Numerous times while at WDW in the summer, we just go on our way and have fun doing everything as we watch all the folks not from somewhere with our climate wilt. Its actually pretty fun to see.

So in answer to your question "do we have a problem" the answer would be no not at all.

 

[minkydog]

I can think of a lot of places that I would call unliveable(New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulfport,Waveland come to mind ) but not Houston. What was their criteria for being "unliveable"?

 

[missypie]

I have to confess that I hate Houston. I live in Dallas and I admit that I have never "given Houston a chance"...I've never seen it as a tourist or a resident. I have often flown down for the day on business...the weather is always either pouring rain (Houston floods at the drop of a hat) or miserably hot and humid. The traffic is horrible. The drive from the airport to downtown is quite ugly, because there is no zoning, so there are pawn shops next to apartment complexes, etc. All my meals have been "on the run" so none have been good.

I'm sharing this because it is my impression as an outsider who has visited often...which is probably the same impression that the authors of the article got. I'm not saying it is an accurate impression of the city...I'm just saying that it is the impression that many visitors get.

Let's contrast with Orlando, for example...you arrive at the airport, and it is beautiful...lots of tropical landscaping, clean and new. The drive into town is pleasant. Lots of palm trees. The impression of a first time visitor is favorable. Same way with Oklahoma City or Austin...lovely regional airports, nice drive into town. None of this is an indication of what it is like to actually LIVE in the city, but first impressions do count.

 

[Rajah]

I live in the Houston area and *really* don't like it. But, that said, there are a lot of major cities that I'd enjoy living in even *less*. Is it THE most unlivable? No, I sure don't think so. I'm curious what they list as criteria as well.

 

[LK03]

Hmm, DH and I live in the Austin area and took a weekend trip to Houston last summer and really enjoyed it. We thought there was a lot of culture and real fun. Though we did comment on wow, this place really IS humid!

 

[Kimberly]

Often when people do studies like this, they only bring in certain variables to living conditions. For example... heat. They might have named it because it was too hot... who knows, I wouldn't take offense to it.

Just take it with a grain of salt, at least you don't live in NJ where everyone thinks is the armpit of the US. In actuality, it is probably one of the most beautiful states in the US, and also one of the most diverse. I love New Jersey, and nothing anyone says will ever change that.

 

[N.Bailey]

My guess is, they were speaking of criminals. It sure wouldn't be a top choice of places to live for them, would it?

 

[Boston Tea Party]

My guess is, they were speaking of criminals. It sure wouldn't be a top choice of places to live for them, would it?

Now wait a minute here. Our criminals were imported in August.

 

[HaleyB]

Maybe it is the total and complete lack of civic planing.

I am a Texan so I can say it, Houston is the ugliest place I have ever seen. Hands down. Yuck. The residential right next to industrial thing is just ugly. The Freeway system is a tangle. Every time I drive through it I feel like I am in some bad 'future gone wrong' movie.